What I Thought of It

Maybe you’ve seen Shoes Under on one of those TV infomercials. I haven’t, but this “As Seen On TV” product did look interesting when I saw it in a store. I bought two Shoes Under units, expecting to organize my shoes neatly under the bed.

For those who’ve never heard of it, Shoes Under is a nylon box. Granted, it’s floppy - not rigid - but it’s best described as a box. The box has a see-thru top that zips open, and the interior has 12 compartments supposedly for 12 pairs of shoes. Shoes Under does not come up very high, making it perfect to slide under the bed. It seems like the ideal way to store your off-season shoes.

That was the product description; now here’s the reality. When unfolded from the packaging box, Shoes Under is much smaller than the picture would suggest. The nylon fabric seems strong and durable, but you’ll really doubt how many shoes will fit in one unit. The compartments are too small! For instance, a pair of running shoes (for average-sized feet) will take up two compartments, one for each shoe. A pair of flip-flops or flatter shoes could actually fit in one compartment, but my dress shoes won’t. I concluded that except for my one pair of flip-flops, none of my other shoes would fit “one pair per pocket”, meaning that I would need four units (twice as much space) to hold all my footwear. Though I only paid $4 for each Shoes Under unit, it’s not the ideal way to store my shoes.

Last thoughts: Shoes Under seems perfect at first, then proves to be impractical when you try to use it. With the pockets/compartments being so small, it’s not what I was looking for. Mine will be going back to the store. I think a couple of under-bed plastic storage boxes would be much more useful and versatile.

So what have we learned today? Don’t believe everything you see on TV or even on the outside of a box.

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Merrell Winter Peak boots

The Merrell Winter Peak is a boot made specifically for cold winters. The Winter Peak is made from Polartec 100 and has a temperature rating of -15 degrees Celsius. That said, don’t expect this shoe to be very comfortable in the summer, because then your feet will be very hot inside.

Merrell makes the Winter Peak in two colors: brown and black (black is shown in the photo). This boot is also waterproof. Merrell does not say how they made it waterproof, but it’s certainly not thanks to a Gore-Tex liner.

The shoe has a nose and heel made of rubber, which is good for the usual winter challenges like snow, but the rubber construction also makes the boot feel a bit stronger and more durable. The rest of the shoe, including the upper mesh, is made from Nubuck / Suede or Synthetic, and this material is seamlessly integrated with the rubber nose and heel to make a snazzy-looking upper.

The sole is made by Vibram to give you the comfort and grip you need from a winter hiking boot. For even more comfort, the midsole has an air cushion, and the shoes also come with foam insoles to help you get the perfect comfort level.

I’ve tested the shoe for a couple of weeks now, wearing it as my everyday shoe. It’s very comfortable, not too stiff around the foot, such that it’s easy to drive with. The shoe does not dig into my legs even with things like bending and kneeling. It is definitely waterproof. I can sometimes feel the cold near the boot opening, when the snow is very deep and I’m stepping into it, but not to the extent of feeling really cold. My feet stay happily warm and very comfortable in the Winter Peak even in -25 degrees Celsius.

I should mention that this is my second pair of Winter Peak boots. My first pair (the store’s display model) had a broken lace loop. I wonder if it happened when they pulled off the tags or if it simply broke. It did not happen to this second pair, and Merrell gives a one-year warranty so it shouldn’t become an issue.

Last thoughts: The Merrell Winter Peak seems to be the shoe that will keep me warm all winter. I love the shape and build. It is not too high so it avoids being big and bulky. It’s also lightweight, which helps on long days standing and walking outside. For me, the Merrell Winter Peak will be my trusty winter boot this year and hopefully for years to come.

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